Adjustable modular tine muck and garden rack

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates primarily to an improvement in a mucking rake that can also be adapted for landscaping use. The invention possesses parallel replaceable tines that are spaced apart at variable distances through the use of individual modular tines and/or spacers. The tines can also be manufactured in a wavy shape to enable the debris to be sifted and collected onto the rake without having to dispose of the debris each time debris is sifted and collected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/437,636

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to an improved mucking rake used in the farm and ranch fields, and in more particularity to a modular mucking rake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mucking rakes are a very common tool used in the farm and ranch fields. The rakes are made with multiple tines spaced apart in parallel from each other. These tines are spaced a fixed distance apart, narrow or wide, from each other. This allows material of multiple aggregates, such as saw dust, wood shavings, wood chips, sand and other types of bedding to pass through, while the manure and other larger material is caught in the rake and disposed of.

The wider the tines are spaced from each other, the more material falls through and is not collected. The narrower the tines are spaced to each other, the less material falls through the tines and more debris is collected. Currently, whoever wants a mucking rake must decide on whether to get a mucking rake with narrow or wide fixed-spaced tines. These mucking rakes are made of unibody construction so there can be no changes once the rake is purchased.

While most mucking rakes are made of plastic, they are made out of metal for strength. As a result of the metal composition, mucking rakes with metal tines are heavy and burdensome. Plastic mucking rakes are not as strong as metal tines and tend to break more often. Should an individual plastic tine break, the rake is heavily compromised for its intended use and is ineffective. The individual raking with a broken tine would have to repeat the same areas that are already raked and items fall through the broken tine area. Essentially, should a single tine break the whole rake must be replaced.

Further, current mucking rake tines are straight. This requires the individual to take time to carefully sift through the material. The user must shake and sift the material through the rake first then take additional time to shake the rake some more in order to collect the material at the bottom of the rake if the user desires to retain some of the material collected in the rake.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an inexpensive lightweight rake that incorporates individual modular tines that can be easily replaced if broken or damaged, can be variably spaced, and which can offer a variety of shapes and functions to act as an modular and interchangeable farming tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment, a mucking rake comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a plurality of modular replaceable tines attached to the modular rail bar in parallel with variable modular spacers and modular connectors in between the modular replaceable tines. Additionally, the individual modular tines themselves can be of varying widths to do without the modular spacers.

The replaceable modular tines result in a significant cost savings should a single tine be damaged or broken. Instead of having to replace the whole tool should a single tine be broken/damaged, the current invention only requires that the replacement of the single broken/damaged tine.

By also using individual tines, the user can also customize their tools through the use of multi-colored tines. Color tines can be utilized to help identifying their personal belongings.

In accordance with another embodiment, a mucking rake comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a plurality of modular replaceable tines attached to the modular rail bar in parallel with variable modular spacers and modular connectors in between the modular replaceable tines, and an end cap on each end of the tool to form a bucket type rake.

An end cap on each end of the tool effectively allows the user to utilize more material to be placed on the tool

In accordance with another embodiment a mucking rake comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a plurality of modular replaceable wave shaped tines attached to the modular rail in parallel with modular spacers and modular connectors in between the modular replaceable wave shaped tines.

By utilizing wave-shaped tines, the debris will more naturally settle at the bottom and require less shaking and work to move around. The wave shape causes debris to be sifted through the high and low of the wave shape assisting the sifting process, making it more efficient to scoop and sift, saving more of the bedding.

In accordance with another embodiment, a shovel comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a modular attachment to the bar for receiving the shovel blade.

In accordance with another embodiment, a modular hoe comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a modular attachment to the bar for receiving the hoe.

In accordance with another embodiment, a modular squeegee comprises a handle, a modular rail bar attached to the handle and a modular attachment to the bar for receiving the squeegee.

The modular attachment rail bar provides the user with multiple tools in one device. Instead of a separate shovel, hoe, and rake to scoop, sift and throw, the current invention accomplishes all three.

In order to more fully understand the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope, the invention in its presently understood best mode for making and using the same will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rake with end caps

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rake, rail, tines and end caps.

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the rail, tines and locking clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention fitted as an adjustable modular tine muck and garden rake. As shown in FIG. 1, the invention permits an individual to use a mucking rake by grabbing the grip (1) attached to one end of a rigid handle (2). As displayed in FIG. 1, a rigid bar (3), is attached to the opposite end of the handle (2). Attached at each end of the rigid bar (3) are two end caps (4) in order to better collect debris.

In between the two end-caps caps (4) along the bar (3) are modular wave shaped tines (5). The wave shape of the tines (5) allows a user to collect and sift more easily as the debris will naturally collect at the lower portion of the tines (5)

The tines (5) are held together to each other by the means of locking clips (6) on each side of the bar (3) as well as interlinking connectors (7).

As shown in FIG. 2, the tines (5) possess a modular end (8) that permits the tine (5) to slide along the modular rail (9) of the bar (3).

The tines (5) can be manufacture to possess narrow widths (10) or manufactured with larger widths (11) depending on the aggregates the individual user is dealing with.

On the opposing end of the tine (5), the tine (5) is tapered (12) to enable the user to scoop much more easily. The invention can be used for other toolsets, such as shovels, hoes, squeegees, just by slipping the loose toolsets (13) onto the rail (9) and securing it within the locking clips (6).

While manufacturing the tines (5) individually provides much more strength than that found on a unibody constructed mucking rake, the tines (5) can be further strengthened by incorporating I-beam cross section (14) into the tine (5) design.

FIG. 3 shows more detail and gives more insight of how the modular end (8) slides over the locking clip (6) and onto the rail (9) by utilizing a tapered end of the rail bar (15). The tapered end of the rail (9) allows easy insertion of the modular ends (8).

All of the modular ends (8) slide over the tapered end (15) of the rail (9) and are held securely by the raised inside portion of the clip (16) against the side wall (17) 

1. A modular toolset for agriculture and landscape comprising: a handle, said handle possessing opposing ends, a grip near one opposing end of the handle, a bar, said bar having a collar dimensioned to receive one end of the handle opposite the grip, said bar having a modular rail, said modular rail possessing a locking mechanism at opposing ends, a plurality of modular tines, said tines possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail; said tines designed to slide along the modular rail, said tines possessing an interlinking member, said interlinking member to attach between said tines, a spacing member, said spacing members possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail, said spacing members designed to slide along the modular rail, said spacing members to be instead along the modular rail between the tines, a modular end cap, said modular end cap possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail, said modular end cap designed to slide along the modular rail, said modular end cap to be inserted along the modular rail at opposing ends adjacent to the locking clips.
 2. The tines of claim 1, wherein the tines are wave shaped,
 3. The toolset of claim 1 further comprising a modular shovel blade, said shovel blade possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail. said modular shovel blade designed to slide along the modular rail, said modular shovel blade to be inserted along the modular rail in between and adjacent to the locking clips,
 4. The toolset of claim 1 further comprising a modular hoe blade, said modular hoe blade possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail. said modular hoe blade designed to slide along the modular rail, said modular hoe blade to be inserted along the modular rail in between and adjacent the locking clips,
 5. The toolset of claim 1 further comprising a modular squeegee, said modular squeegee possessing one end dimensioned to attach to said rail. said modular squeegee designed to slide along the modular rail, said modular squeegee to be inserted along the modular rail in between and adjacent to the locking clips. 